Gone or Farewell Beloved Friend

To you, this may just look like a picture of our garage and driveway, and it is. But it is also a picture of a largely empty side drive, without the hulking wreck of Kent's truck. I shouldn't really call it a hulking wreck. I should more call it a rust bucket, with a bumper sticker that said, "Honk if parts fall off" which could have happened at any time. Kent inherited the truck, a 1984 Toyota Hilux (preferred vehicle of terrorists everywhere), from our friend Leland Stout. 

The truck was never in really great working condition, but Kent loved it. He was so pleased to be able to haul stuff to the dump, help people move, take large stuff to work, and just be able to do truck stuff. It looked horrible, but Kent looked upon it with love and affection. Last year, he tried to replace some parts. The clutch was very bad; Kent would plan his driving routes so he never ran the risk of having to stop on a hill, worried he wouldn't be able to get moving before rolling backwards into the car behind him. The body was rusted all over. Struts were shot and no good, the transfer case bearing was blown, it needed new rear brakes. But other than that, it was perfect. 

Oddly enough, the only picture I could find of the truck was of me driving it to pick up dead Christmas trees to burn. 

I did not drive the truck regularly. It was scary.

Once, I took Cora someplace in the truck and she nearly hyperventilated she was so nervous. She was certain it was going to fall apart under us.

That was not an unreasonable concern.

After taking things apart, Kent realized that he could put a lot of time and money into the thing, but it wasn't going to work well and would still be dicey to drive. So, he gave up and left the thing parked in the driveway. His history with taking things apart and then putting them back together hasn't always been stellar, so I was concerned that years from now we would still have a hunk of metal sitting in the side drive, an eyesore for our neighbors. 

In his praise, Kent is making an effort to get rid of things that we don't need or use, things that have been hanging around for a looooooooong time. I looooooooove this direction and support him wholeheartedly. Just last week he contacted a salvage yard and asked how much they would give him for the truck. I was astounded to hear that they were willing to pay us $800 for the thing. $800!! And as a bonus, they would come and haul it away. WHAT?! Amazing!!

So, when I returned home for lunch this afternoon and pulled into the cul-de-sac, I was thrilled to see an empty side drive. The truck was great while it lasted, and now it's great to have it gone.

The truck being driven away.

sob sob

REJOICE!

 

Brandt is Ordained an Elder

Bringing joy to both his parents, today Brandt was ordained an elder by Kent. We have been anticipating this priesthood progression as we have anticipated his mission paper submission, and we were all pleased that it happened. We invited Lee, Cammie, and Aaron, as well as my mom to join us. Charles Helquist needed to be with us as a stake representative, so we had him join Kent, Lee, and Aaron in the circle.

Kent gave Brandt a sweet blessing in addition to ordaining him. He mentioned how happy Grandpa George was to have his last grandson become an elder. I thought about Grandpa De who I'm certain was pleased to have Brandt be his first grandson ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood.  It made me cry thinking about those who have gone before us who I know were participating in the ordination. Kent told Brandt he is a warrior in the fight against Satan, and that the priesthood he now holds will aid him in that fight. He also counseled Brandt to use is priesthood in the service of others.

Exciting things are coming for Brandt. He meets with the Stake President this week for his mission interview, and we are hoping for a mission call by the end of the month. It has been wonderful to see him grow in the gospel and in his testimony and Kent and I are grateful he is continuing on the covenant path.

A Furry Bedfellow

Moo Moo missed us while we were away. She was ecstatic to see us upon our return from Costa Rica, and since our return, she has hardly left our side. Tonight, I came up for bed and found her snuggled up close to Kent, enjoying a pet. We have a good dog!

Kent Goes to the ER

Every first Monday of the month, Kent volunteers at the Food and Care Coalition with some other members of the ward. Brandt almost always goes too. Today he returned early. Upon inquiring why, he told me had gotten very light-headed and nearly passed out. Fran Jensen had him sit down and took his pulse. She said, "Your heart is missing a beat every third beat. You should have that looked at." 

Kent came home and lay down on the couch and after a bit felt fine. Fran texted to see how he was and after some questions and answers, she said, if it was her, she would go to the ER and be checked out. So, Kent and I went to the ER. When it comes to one's heart, you can't be too careful.

Because Kent was having heart issues, they got us right in, immediately hooked him up to several monitors, and began numerous tests. They took blood, they did an EKG, they did an x-ray, and they monitored his heart rate for some time. His heart rate was not the steady up and down you see on television medical dramas as the patient of the show is hooked up to monitors. It was wacky. That's the technical term. The doctor was great in giving us a timeline, telling us we were likely to be there an hour and a half before they had some answers. 

Eighty minutes later, the doctor said they didn't really see much wrong except that he was missing a heartbeat on the down beat. Missing a beat generated by the top part of the heart is scary, but when you miss one generated from the bottom part of the heart, it is less serious. He had spoken with a cardiologist who had reviewed all the test results and said we could go home. We are to make an appointment with the cardiologist and get in as soon as possible--we shouldn't wait three months. 

We came home with no real answers but without the immediate stress that Kent could be having a heart attack. We will make an appointment and have things checked out. In the meantime, Kent asked if his life insurance policy was up to date. Not funny!

The ER doc's diagram of the heart and where Kent's is not beating correctly.

A Snuggle

 

Izzy sent me this picture at 11:23pm.

She said, "Moo has decided to steal your husband."

Moo Moo does like a snuggle in bed.

Picture from Izzy at 11:23 pm. Where was I? Probably at Mikayla's.

Kent Speaks in Church

Kent was asked to speak in church today. Yesterday at dinner, I asked if he was finished with his talk and he said, "Yes, but I think I'm going to write another." What an overachiever! I was sneaky during church at took his picture while he was on the stand and at the podium, but I promise, I really listened. Here are both pictures and talk.

Listening intently to Brady Elder who spoke before Kent.

Complexity

The book of Mormon is filled with stories of the Rise and Fall of great societies. It's the Pride cycle---the people go through trials that humble them, then God Prospers them, then things go off the rails and the people believe that they are smart and more clever than their poorer brethren.

We live in a very complex society.  The details of which are very hard to navigate.  Computers, houses, laws, finances, health.  and even our worship can become very complicated. Our society, the whole world, is at the conclusion of one of these cycles.

I  have an advanced degree in complexity--no matter how simple the problem, give me about 30 seconds and I make up a complicated solution involving multitudes

How Can We Simplify our Lives, Especially our Worship

Elder Uchdorft  October 2010  Conference

After his customary story about flying an airplane and the need to slow down to the proper speed to handle turbulence, he compares this to our complicated lives.

"This is a simple but critical lesson to learn. It may seem logical when put in terms of trees or turbulence, but it’s surprising how easy it is to ignore this lesson when it comes to applying these principles in our own daily lives. When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be.

One of the characteristics of modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate, regardless of turbulence or obstacles.

Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.

It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Overscheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks."

There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.

For example, it wasn’t long after astronauts and cosmonauts orbited the earth that they realized ballpoint pens would not work in space. And so some very smart people went to work solving the problem. It took thousands of hours and millions of dollars, but in the end, they developed a pen that could write anywhere, in any temperature, and on nearly any surface. But how did the astronauts and cosmonauts get along until the problem was solved? They simply used a pencil.

Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

'The search for the best things inevitably leads to the foundational principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ—the simple and beautiful truths revealed to us by a caring, eternal, and all-knowing Father in Heaven. These core doctrines and principles, though simple enough for a child to understand, provide the answers to the most complex questions of life.'

Enoch Sees God Weeps

Moses 7: 28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?

29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst aweep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?

30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;

31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?

32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;

33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;

How Can we simplify our lives and our worship?

1.  Choose God to be our Father. 

2. Follow Jesus

3. Serve our families, including our ancestors in the temple.

4. Serve our neighbors.

5. Slow down.  Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”

6. Be as a little child, humble submissive to our father in Heaven

We are headed for an apocalypse--apocalypse simply means a change. The signs of evident on every side.   The Devil and his slaves are desperate to destroy--WB Yeats wrote a poem (Second Coming) that captures part of this contemporary condition well, although I don't agree with the conclusion of this poem, these lines have stayed with me:

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

But the apocalypse will fix all this horror and will be magnificient and healing--the Lord will come in power and glory, nothing will be lost, no good thing forgotten, all that is right will be restored.

Be of Good Cheer, Fear Not

D&C 68:6 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I cwas, that I am, and that I am to come

“In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.” Doctrine and Covenants 59:21

Elder Renland April 2020 "The Savior loves to restore what you cannot restore; He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken; He compensates for any unfairness inflicted on you;  and He loves to permanently mend even shattered hearts.' 

Revelations 21:24 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

We can all do this, together, as a family, as a ward, as cherished children of our Father in Heaven.

Friday Dinner Preparation

 

Mid-afternoon, while I was at work, I got a call from Izzy who said, "I want bread bowls for dinner tonight." 

"Great!" I replied. "What are you going to put in the bread bowls?"

"Potato soup," she said. "Where's the recipe? I'm going to make it."

I can tell you I'm not passing up that offer! I told Izzy where she could find the recipe and eagerly looked forward to dinner. She called twice more with questions, but I came home to a steaming pot of delicious potato soup. The bread bowls were a yummy container for the soup which we sat down to eat almost immediately after I got home. 

It was absolutely wonderful to have someone else prepare food, especially on a Friday when I work late. Thank you, Izzy! And Kent too, who made a significant contribution to the effort.

Want to try something new next week?

Look how delish!

Celebrating Kent

Kent turned 67 today. Does that sound old? It might be old. But Kent is fit and busy and not really old at all. He worked today but went to lunch with Lee and Aaron. As a family and in the company of my mom, we had a celebratory dinner at La Dolce Vita. Brandt told our waitress that we were doing to Italy this year and would be eating "real" Italian food when we got there. (We aren't going to Italy this year and the food we had at La Dolce Vita was "real.") My mom made Kent a blueberry pie which was delicious and into which we stuck seven candles (67 would have been too many) and over which we sang "Happy Birthday." 

And as it would take a long time to come up with 67 reasons we love Kent and then record them, here are seven from each of us.

Katherine

1. Kent thinks about other people before he thinks of himself.
2. Kent works hard.
3. Kent is smart and continues to learn new things.
4. Kent is kind to those on the margins.
5. Kent is a great Primary teacher.
6. Kent exemplifies the first two commandments: he loves God and he loves his neighbor.
7. Kent always cleans the kitchen.

Isabella

1. He is very patient.
2. He is always ready to help.
3. He is selfless.
4. He wants the best for us.
5. He can fix anything.
6. He likes to learn.
7. He gives people the benefit of the doubt.

Brandt

1. He does service for other people; he's very selfless.
2. He adopted me.
3. He tries his hardest to cook food.
4. He's a hard worker and has taught me to work hard.
5. He teaches me things.
6. He's very laidback and chill.
7. Kind to everyone.

Kent Sprouts

When I began working full-time, several things had to go. One of them was the garden. Although we love fresh veg, I did not have the time to do what was necessary. Kent stepped in and took over garden responsibilities. He researched what type of tomatoes were the best for our area and did some shopping to find the varieties of tomatoes he wanted. Tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, or his absolute favorite. Mine too. Who doesn't love a BLT with fresh tomatoes just picked off the vine? 

Kent has been very generous in sharing our harvest with the neighbors, including Andrew and Elizabeth Kay. Earlier this year, Andrew brought over some heirloom seeds he had ordered and gifted them to Kent. Andrew thought it would be fun for Kent to try these interesting varieties of tomatoes which he would then share with them. Among the seeds were black tomatoes, which looked super interesting to both of us. I imagine them in caprese salad. 

Kent has been planting the seeds and nurturing them along over the past couple of weeks. They have begun to sprout, and he is watering them delicately, hoping for and thinking about future harvest.

Kent Cuts Off His Finger

Titling this post "Kent Cuts Off His Finger" sounds horrible, and while the damage he did to his finger is real, it is perhaps less dramatic than all that.

Today, while helping Saneh clean out the rain gutters of her house, Kent sliced off the tip of his middle finger on his right hand. He was using a leaf blower to get leaves out of the gutters and Bill, Saneh's husband, for whatever reason, had removed the fan blade cover on the underside of the leaf blower. Kent reached under to change the angle of the blower and the moving fan blades cut through his leather glove and took off the end of his finger. 

Kent came home and bandaged up his finger, then returned to finish the job. He's no slouch. Sadly, while he is excellent at gutter clean-out, he was not excellent at finger bandaging. The finger continued to bleed throughout the day and was a mess. In the evening, after dinner, he asked if I would come help him clean it up some. I am a doctor after all. (eye roll) We removed the bandage, I took one look at it and said, "We have to go to Insta-Care." His finger looked awful, I had no idea how to really fix it, and I thought he might need stitches.

So off we went. It was just before closing but they graciously took Kent in. The doctor who came to assess the damage was an older man who had served in Vietnam. He cleaned up the wound, determined there was nothing to stitch as Kent has sliced away the skin, but did a much better job of bandaging the finger. He gave us better materials to replace the bandage in a couple of days and sent us on our way. We changed bandages a couple days later and every couple of days thereafter until it was healed.

As a post editing note, Kent's finger is still stiff over a year later. He can't fully bend the end knuckle and it remains a bit numb. While it is no longer painful, it is a reminder to him to, in his own words, "not do stupid things."

Droubay Cousin Reunion

Ah, Erda and a cousin's reunion. A goodly number of Grandma and Grandpa Droubay's grandchildren, as well as Uncle Dwight and Aunt Bertha, gathered at the ancestral homestead for food and great conversation.  Anytime I visit the big house and property there, it feels like going home after a long journey. All the memories of the farm and the people and growing up come flooding back.  I am grateful for the people who made all of the good things of my life possible--family, God, deep roots.

Coming Home?

Kent had to take Richard to the hospital tonight. His blood sugar plummeted and he couldn't be revived and it was a thing. I didn't know when he would be getting home, and Moo Moo certainly wasn't anxious to kicked out of bed. In a text, I sent Kent this picture and said, "Coming home soon? Moo Moo is wondering."

He didn't make it home before we were both asleep. But when I woke, Kent was beside me, not the dog, so he must have kicked her out of bed when he got home.

Kent Wrangles the Johnsens

This morning, Mikayla had a physical therapy appointment and asked Kent if he could help get kids out the door for school and managed until she could get back. He went over shortly before 8:00 am. I realized I had time to go help, too, so joined him about 8:10. 

When I arrived, children were everywhere, as is typical. I helped Cora and the girls get some breakfast and then got Kal dressed. I couldn’t find his shoes. I had him help me look all over the house, upstairs and down, but I couldn’t find them. In the end, I set his boots by the door along with his bag and called it good. I showed Kent that coat, boots, and bag were all on the door. I brushed Cora’s hair and we got shoes on, then she and Brick left the house. I had to follow closely behind them, confident that things were under control.

 

Kathryn Seamons was coming to pick up Kal at 9:00 for school, and shortly before then, Kent suggested Kal put his boots on. Boots, however, were nowhere to be found, nor was the bag. They were not by the door where I had left them. Kent began a frantic search and tried to enlist Kal’s help. He wasn’t really inclined to look. In fact, he went and hid himself in the bed. Kent ran around looking for boots and eventually found them hiding along with Kal. There was a struggle to get the boots on and things rounded up with an uncooperative small person hindering forward progress. Kathryn arrived to collect Kal and after waiting, came to door and asked if she could help. 

Wild eyed, Kent said, "Yes!" Eventually, Kent scooped Kal up and carried him to Kathryn's car where Quin thankfully, after a helpful suggestion from Kathryn, allowed Kal to play with his car. They headed off to school.

Kent, with only two small children now under his watch, felt confident he could handle the situation. He went back to enter the house through the front door only to find that the girls had locked him out. To make matters worse, when he knocked, they both peeked around the corner, saw him, and ran away. Kent knocked again. They slowly returned, again peeking around the corner, but they were not keen to open up. Kent was reminded of the time when his brothers locked his mother out of the house and only let her back in when she promised not to spank them. Kent told Freya and Thea that he wouldn't spank them or be mad if they would only let him in. They unlocked the door.

Mikayla returned home and found Kent sitting on the couch with the girls perched on boxes behind him, listening intently as he read Everybody Poops. While things had obviously calmed down, I'm not sure Mikayla will be able to convince Kent to help with the morning send off ever again.

Gingerbread Houses

At Mikayla’s suggestion, the adults in the DeMartini family are doing Secret Santa this year. Mikayla’s neighbor picked names for us and we were given an envelope with the person we had. During December we were to do a treat/service/fun thing for our person and then get them a present for our Christmas Eve gathering. Today Kent’s Secret Santa delivered four gingerbread houses, frosting, and lots of candy to decorate. How fun is that?! We each decorated a house except for Brandt who, for whatever reason, couldn’t be bothered. 

Positive for Covid

Months ago, Maureen Ogles invited me, Heidi Tanner, and Cinda Morgan to join her in seeing Jim Gaffigan in concert. I regularly go to dinner with Maureen, Heidi, and Cinda, but it had been months since we got together and I was so excited to be with these dear friends with the added bonus of seeing Jim Gaffigan who is so funny. He was performing at Vivint Arena which requires anyone attending anything to show either their Covid passport with vaccination dates or a negative Covid test performed within 72 hours of the start of the event.

 

Not having been vaccinated, I went this evening on my way home from work to get a rapid test. Although I have had a little runny nose and a bit of a cough, I did not think for even a moment that I had Covid. I had the test done in Orem in the parking lot of the Timpanogos Hospital and they told me they would email me the results. Before I was even home, I got a text message saying the results were in my inbox.

 

I have Covid.

 

Kent gave it to me. He got it from Kathy Dutson. Several weeks ago, Kathy got Covid and was hospitalized. She could have one visitor and chose Kent, her ministering brother, to be that one. Kent is diligent in his attention to those he ministers to, so he went every evening to see her. He gowned and masked up to go into her room, but she couched and acked the whole time he was there, every time he was there. He tended to go late in the evening and get home after I went to bed, so he got run down. I told him if he got Covid from Kathy, then died and she recovered to go on living her miserable life, I would be mad as hell at him, and I would probably never get over my hate for Kathy. He said, “I’m not going to die of Covid,” and kept right on visiting.

 

He began feeling lousy, developed a cough, and had no energy to do anything. He slept late, got up to lie on the couch, then went to bed early. He quit visiting Kathy who was going to die (so she said) but then recovered. He did virtually nothing. He didn’t go get tested, but it doesn’t take much imagination to know that transmission from Kathy to Kent to Katherine is a highly likely scenario.

 

So, I texted Maureen, Heidi, and Cinda and told them I wouldn’t be joining them on Saturday for dinner and comedy and will call work in the morning to let them know. I’m totally bummed about Saturday, disappointed that I won’t get to be with my friends. Instead, I’ll be home, “ailing.” What’s doubly bad is that I have taken no real precautions this week, thinking I had a little cold. I worked on Monday and Tuesday and was on call on Wednesday. I didn’t get called in, so Mikayla and I ran all sorts of errands, including to Target and Costco. I worked today, thus having exposed people from Santaquin to Saratoga Springs and up to Heber with my germs. I also went to the temple on Tuesday but wore my mask the whole time, so I’m hoping I didn’t infect anyone there.

 

Post edit: I was home from work for a week. I was able to do quite a bit of Christmas stuff, though not out and about. We missed the DeMartini Family Christmas party and visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause which was the day I tested positive. I didn’t get to see Jim Gaffigan, I missed Blythe’s choir concert, our Relief Society weekly activity, and another trip to the temple. But Friday, feeling “better” (I never really felt bad), I went grocery shopping and did a few Christmas errands. But Sunday, I felt fine to return to church and Monday resumed normal activity, like work. So glad it wasn’t bad.

Movie Date

We have been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for the latest installment of the James Bond franchise, No Time to Die, to come out. It kept being put off, but we'd still see trailers. For Brandt, it's been agony. But it finally came out, I had work off today for Columbus Day, and so Kent, Brandt, and I went after school.

It was so good! Daniel Craig's last tour as Bond was terrific; sweet and sad. Don't tell, but he dies at the end. As the credits began to roll, Brandt turned to me and said, "I cried." 

"Not me," I replied, with tears still rolling down my cheeks. 

It was worth the wait, and so fun to have a date with both my boys.

Summer Camp Adventures

We are having a busy couple of weeks out in nature with lots of youth. Last week, Brandt went with the Teachers and Priests to the Unitahs for High Adventure. (more from Brandt) This week, Blythe and I were at girl’s camp, and Kent went to Moab for Deacon Adventure with Aaron Oyler, Jake Thornock, Dane Runia, and a bunch of boys. 

As with Youth Conference, I did much planning for girl's camp. We were supposed to be able to go to Heber Valley Camp this year, but due to Covid, it still isn’t open, so we had to fend for ourselves. Fortunately, Jeri Covey is the second counselor in the young women’s presidency, and she volunteered the use of the Covey cabin for camp. It is enormous, with ten bedrooms, lots of beds and couches to sleep on, and plenty of room for meals and activities. I made sure we ate well, with an afternoon snack each day and a tasty dessert each evening. Our theme was Righteous League, and how we can be superheroes. The plan was for activities, crafts, and games on Wednesday, a day at the lake on Thursday, and a trip to the temple on Friday.

 

For some weeks, Blythe has said she was not going to camp. In her words, “It sounds like DEATH!” She felt that much time having to associate with people, even girls she really likes, would just be too much for her. I assured her that she would be able to take time to be on her own if she felt a need to be alone. But it was still a no-go on Monday.

 

I went shopping with Mandy Ficker on Monday evening and returned home with tales of how cool the cabin was. I mentioned that there was a swing set, I was going to have my own room, and that the whole setting was beautiful. Blythe began to waffle. Then, on Tuesday, I casually brought up that there was archery equipment and a target. That was enough to tip the scales, and Blythe agreed that she could go and might actually survive. We spent Tuesday evening (after canoeing) packing and getting all her stuff together.

 

Elizabeth, Shaylee, Ellie, Blythe, Lizzie

Here is a report from Blythe about Wednesday.

We got settled in and explored. I slept in a room with Elizabeth, Ellie and Lizzie. Then we played a bunch of dorky superhero games. We mostly just hung around and talked. I took a nap and did some reading, so missed some of the other activities.

 

I stayed at the cabin on Wednesday and Thursday night, helping with dinner and desserts. I gave a slightly too-long fireside about the temple and the power that comes from being in God’s house and being endowed. It went okay. I hit it out of the park, however, with Wednesday’s dessert—caramel apples with a variety of toppings.

 

Thursday, after a delicious French toast breakfast, everyone went to Deer Creek for boating. It was a fun though exhausting day and everyone came home hungry because practically no one ate lunch. Here is more from Blythe.

Some girls did surfing on the boats, but not me. I was in the Crisler's boat. I sat in the front of the boat with my friends and sang along to the songs they were blasting. There were some people whose boat engine had stopped working, and we towed them back to shore, getting extra bonus points in Heaven. 

 

Ryan and Elizabeth Elder came up to do Thursday’s fireside. The bishop spoke about the hero’s journey and making sure we stay on the path back to Heavenly Father. We had dutch oven peach cobbler and apple and berry crisps for our dessert. The girls interacted downstairs while the adults talked and laughed upstairs.

 

Blythe and Emma Bradford cocooned in sleeping bags

We were able to attend the temple on Friday morning. It has been so long since Blythe was there, like clear back in February 2020, and I was so happy to be there with her. We both cried happy tears as we felt the Spirit. It was a wonderful conclusion to a fun and uplifting few days.

top back (L-R): Abby Davis, Sarah Oyler

top full row: Laney Ficker, Taylor Crisler, Anna LaComb, Blythe, Nikki Bracken, Mary Tayler, 

Lucy Nebeker, Heidi Moreland, Ashlyn Elder, Abbie Drake

middle full row: Lizzie Jensen, Ellie Mason, Shaylee Elder, Amy Bracken, Lily Bradford, 

Jayne Tayler, Addie LeCheminant, Allie Ficker, Ava Davis

front row: Elle Blad, Emma Bradford, Elizabeth Stovall, Clair LeCheminant, 

Rachel Jensen, Rebekah Neyman

While we were up at Sundance in the cooler mountain temperatures, Kent was down in Moab, roasting in the 100+ degree heat. Here is Kent's report.

We were there with six deacons and five leaders. It was 106. Aaron Oyler, Brian Bushman, Kent, Dane Runia, and Jack Thornock. First day we set up camp along the Colorado River which was quite low. There was no one in camp until the next day. We went on a hike up a canyon about 2 1/2 miles each way, but it seemed like 15 miles because it was so hot. It was a nice hike up to a little tiny waterfall and a bit cooler because we were out of the sun, but still hot. There were some scantily clad young women on the trail at the waterfall we came to, but the boys were much more interested in the crawdads they saw. Dane treated us all to dinner at Milt's. We picked up mountain bikes for the next day. (Hike was up Powerhouse)

That night, the kids were riding all around the campground which was rather flat. About 11pm, Grant Seamons, one of the more responsible boys, yelled out to Everett Bushman, "I'm going to bed." His response, "Why would you ever want to do that?" They did, eventually, go to bed, with the sound of frogs croaking in the background.

The next day, we went to Slick Rock, with lots of trails all over the rugged terrain. The boys did great, even though it was hotter than blazes. We had one accident. Just about as we finished the circuit, Luke Thornock was forced off the trail by an incoming biker and hit his knee hard. They thought it might be broken, so Jake took him home, with Chris Jensen arriving to fill in the gap and be with Gary. 

The last morning, before we left, we hiked to Corona Arch, the trailhead of which was right across the road from our campsite. It was a pretty hike. It was hot, hot the whole time, but the boys didn't seem to mind. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and in the end, Luke's knee was not broken. 

This is a great report. What fun summer camping adventures!